Gus Kenworthy nabs the top qualifying position in X Games superpipe

Gus Kenworthy nabs the top qualifying position in X Games superpipe

The pressure was high as the boys took their turn through the superpipe this evening at the 2015 Winter X Games. Sixteen extremely hungry semifinalists stood atop the pipe here in Aspen, Colorado, fighting for just eight spots in Sunday’s primetime event. Per usual, the crew (some new, some old), were throwing down throughout the best of two-run format. It was quite the show, indeed.

Gus Kenworthy rose to the occasion and resides in the driver’s seat heading into the main event. Kenworthy earned a score of 89.33 on his first run of the night. Gus K’s run included a cork 900 tail, a rightside cork 1080 tail, a switch 720 Japan, a double alley-oop flatspin Japan, a cork 1080 tail and a switch 720 tail to finish things off.

Watch: Gus Kenworthy’s top qualifying run.

FREESKIER catches up with Gus Kenworthy after superpipe semifinals.

Colorado native Lyman Currier claimed the second qualifying spot of the night. Currier had the crowd roaring in his first major contest of the season as he too flaunted some massive airs, a double alley-oop flatspin and clean technicality throughout the pipe. Rounding out the top three qualifiers was X Games veteran Kevin Rolland. The frenchman is no stranger to the perfect pipe here at Buttermilk Mountain, and he took advantage of it with an array of dubs and locked grabs, earning a score of 86.66 on his first lap of the night.

Although he would not make it into Sunday’s finals, a notable highlight of the night was seen when Simon Dumont took his turn with the 22-foot tall pipe. Tonight’s contest marked Dumont’s fourteenth year competing at the Winter X Games here in Aspen, and after his second run, the 28-year-old of Bethel, Maine flung his goggles into the crowd for the final time. It was a bittersweet moment watching Dumont battle the icy walls of the burly pipe tonight, two broken wrists and all. As he made his way through the gallery, fans and industry folk paid their respects with daps and autograph requests. It’s an honor to say thank you and congratulations to Dumont on behalf of team FREESKIER for all of the memories and monstrous airs that he’s provided since his X Games debut in 2002.

Note: Top 8 Advance to Finals

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Saturday brings a packed schedule here at the 2015 X Games. Be sure to tune into @FREESKIERLive on Twitter for live coverage of Men’s slopestyle, Women’s slopestyle and Men’s big-air. For more information on the events to come, click here.